A Note From LifeIsAParade: Hey guys sorry for the wait. This is a short chapter until I can get the next one banged out. Enjoy.

Chapter Eight

July 15th, 2006

Somewhere In Maryland...

Chloe's POV

" Forty-nine bottles of whey on the wall. Forty-nine bottles of whey. Take one down, pass it around, fifty bottles of whey on the wall. "

Damn it! Why did I get stuck with the annoying twins for this trip? Stephanie is heavily pregnant so Hunter is spending our few days off with her. Leaving Shawn, Arlette, and I to spend QT together. She has never been on a road trip before so we have been driving from state to state finding mischief to get into. They started that dumbass song thirty minutes ago and my head is pounding something terrible.

" Can I please get a break? I'm going to tuck and roll in a minute. "

They both quiet down that is until we pass a sign for some dumb tourist attraction. Arly sticks her head in between Shawn and I's seats and asks, " Can we stop and see the world's largest rubber band ball? "

I give her a double-take. " How about no? "

" You sound so Canadian when you say that. " Shawn teases while holding my hand while his other is on the steering wheel.

Blushing I say, " Well, I do live there Shawny. No one ever has fun at those tourist traps Arl ".

" But all we've been seeing is hotel rooms, gyms, and arenas. This is supposed to be a road trip. " She says pouting and crossing her arms.

Uh uh. " - "

" Come on Chlo, let the kid see the ball. " Shawn says before I can speak.

Before I can protest further he's making the turn for the damn thing. Now it's my turn to pout. I hate these things.

" Come on Chlo I promise it will be better than the biggest ball of twine. " He says letting go of my hand to rub my thigh.

Glaring at him I push his hand away. How dare he bring up that? Fuck the world's biggest ball of twine.

So my bratty little sister gets her way once more and I'm just along for the ride. Get over it Chloe, let's try to enjoy the day.

Why did they ever think up these sideshow attractions? Why on earth do people do these things? I've only ever been to one of these places once in my life. It was also when I found out Shawn was getting married. The world's largest ball of twine to be exact. I have always wondered if he would have ever told me if Hunter hadn't let it slip. Maybe I'd have found out after it happened and be crushed even harder. It shouldn't have blindsided me like that but it did...

After his back injury, he left the WWF and wasn't talking to anyone. He was hurt in more ways than one but it wasn't all my fault. We weren't technically together while he was injured, but only because he wasn't taking my calls. Not being the one to beg someone to be with me I let him go. Let him go in the hopes that he'd come back. I never thought he'd go and marry some Nitro girl.

So no I don't want to be here. I vowed to never visit another one of these places to escape that memory. The only reason I've sucked it up is that Arly has really been having a fun time. Lord bless the girl who has such weird tastes.

A little while later Arly has had her fill of rubber and is ready to go. " I just need to run to the ladies and I'm ready. "

" Okay, we'll be out at the car. Come straight there when you're done. " I say and wait until she's in the bathroom.

We parked the car right out front and the entire side of the building is glass. I don't like taking chances with my sister though. I only recently let the reigns go a little enough for her to do some things on her own. Call me overprotective but this whole " parent " thing doesn't have a manual. I didn't want to be naive about anything where she's concerned.

It was inevitable that Shawn would start to notice my silence. And he did about an hour in. " You've been quiet since we got here Chlo... Wanna tell me what's on your mind? "

To be honest... I'm lost in a sea of memories... One's that I buried a long time ago.

" Babe? " He asks settling his warm hands on my shoulders.

Shaking my head I say, " I just don't like these places. It just brings back bad memories. " I say barely above a whisper before sitting on the hood of the car.

Of course, he didn't know what to say and that's fine. I just needed to get that out.

" I'm sorry I told you that way. That's one of the biggest regrets of my life. Not being man enough to talk to you before things got that far with Rebeccah. Or not being smart enough to see that she was just a crutch. " He says finally.

Two tears fall down my face at his admission. " I just keep thinking that maybe if I wasn't so fuc- messed up it wouldn't have hurt me as much as it did. "

" Chloe it had nothing to do with that. " He promises. " I was the messed up one. I promised that you would never face anything alone again and I was not in the right mind state to keep it. That weighs on my conscience every day but I know I can keep it now. "

Looking him in the eyes it's hard not to have them well up. " You promise? "

" Come here darlin' " He whispers pulling me close to him. " You're the only woman besides my mom that means anything to me, Chloe. I'm sorry that I ever made you feel that you were anything less than the love of my life. "

Well damn now I'm really crying. " I love you. "

" I love you too darlin'. Nothing is going to come in between us this time around I promise. "

Two Days Later

Shawn's POV

Thank God for prenuptial agreements. I'm officially a free man ladies and gentlemen. Rebecca Curci is out of my life for good things can't get any better- That is until I see my woman talking to Maria looking good enough to eat. Sneaking up on her I wrap my arms around her waist and kiss her neck.

" Hey, babe. " I say in her ear. " Hey, Maria. " I greet politely.

" Hey, Shawn. See you later Dri. " She says looking awkward.

" Bye Maria. " She says before turning around to tangle her arms around my neck. Smiling up at me she says, " hey, sexy boy. "

Reaching up to kiss me, I meet her halfway smiling into her lips.

" You ready for tonight? " She asks pecking me one last time.

Nodding I say, " I sure hope you know what you're doing. "

" How many times did we pull this when I was your valet? Now you, I'm worried about. Time can be so cruel. " She says laughing that sweet laugh I love so much.

Now, this feeling is something I've been missing. Even if she is teasing me. " Yeah well, we'll see. It's time to go work out a little. That is if Hunter brings his bones. Where is he? "

" Is that my name I just heard? " Hunter says just exiting the elevator.

Chloe smiles before hugging her older brother. " Hey bro how's Steph? "

" She's good. Ready to get the baby here though. Hey Shawn. " He says looking pretty tired.

Chloe frowns no doubt noticing the bags under his eyes. " I bet. From the pictures you sent she hanging really low. It should be at any time. Are you sure you don't want to be with her until she goes into labor? "

It does make sense but Hunter doesn't look convinced. " I'm good. We aren't traveling too far and I'm sorry, but she has become a raging, hormonal you know what. "

" Well look at you Mr. Sensitivity. And you're having a little girl, you need to take some classes. " She ribs.

Rolling his eyes he says, " Yeah, yeah. I'll be great with Aurora. She's my kid after all. "

" I can see a lot of mooning in her future. I'm not so happy you guys chose that name. " She says in a serious tone.

A huge poop eating grin spreads across his face. " I know. "

Ouch. She hates her middle name. It brings back times that she doesn't like to think about. Even more than our issues. She told me about how she was named many years ago and I'm glad they went with Chloe as a first name for sure.

...

" My mom, even through her junkie stupor, was an avid Disney fan. My name was either going to be Cinderella, Aurora, or Tinkerbell. A nurse finally had enough and mentioned Chloe and maybe one of the others for my middle name. Let's just be glad it was Aurora that she picked. "

" That's a hell of a way to get a name. "

" Yeah, the only reason I know that story is because I met the nurse when my mom died. She was so happy to see me and stayed with me until CPS came. "

Pulling her closer I tangle our legs, even more, mulling over what she just said.

" I've never told anyone that story before. " She whispers.

Seriously? " Not even the Hart's? "

" No, they would never understand. But you do... Here with you- " She says running her fingers through my chest hair. " In your arms, I feel the safest I ever have in my life. To be myself and to love unconditionally. Before this, I never understood how someone could love another person without limitations."

Now that hits me home. This little woman sure has a hell of a lot of faith in me. " I'll always be your safe place I promise. Right here is where you belong. " I tell her while rubbing her back in slow circles.

In just under a year my best friend's sister has my heart all fucked up. I've tried to fight it but I can't. Not anymore. " We gotta tell Hunter. The sooner the better. "

" mmm Okay. " She says through a yawn.

The heat from her body alone is going to have me asleep in minutes. She seems to be a perfect fit. " Get some sleep babe. "

" Goodnight. " She mumbles already halfway to dreamland.

...

" Hey don't middle name me Michael! " Chloe yells bringing me out of my memories.

God these two have been going at each other like this since day one. Sometimes it's funny but others...

Putting her in a headlock he says, " take it back Chlo. "

" Never! " She screams trying to overpower him. " Shawn, aren't you going to at least pretend to help me? "

Chuckling, I lean back against the brick wall and shake my head. This is not my fight nor is it my place to get in between them when they get like this. " Sorry babe you'll have to duke it out with him all on your own. "

" You know what? When I'm done kicking his butt I'm gonna start on yours. How about that? " She sasses like the hellion she is.

Laughing I say, " It sounds to me like you want a whooping darlin'. "

" Don't you dare. " She says as she stops failing to look at me seriously.

" I see you all have gotten mature in your older years. " Coach says coming out of Vince's office with an old fashioned clipboard.

" Shut it, Coach. " She says still in the headlock.

Hunter lets her go and says, " You don't want us to get creative with you next week after all do you? " Hunter asks cracking his knuckles.

Chloe fixes her hair and posture and then faces Coach head on with us.

" Umm... I think I hear Mr. McMahon calling me. " He says rushing off as fast as he can.

Chloe laughs and kisses me one last time. " That was fun. Now I need to go get ready for lunch with Arly and Nattie. "

Nattie, or Natalie Neidhart, is the daughter of Jim " Anvil " Neidhart and Elizabeth Hart. We all know who the Hart family is so there's really no need for introductions. But this one, she's it. I've been helping to watch over and train her since she was a little bitty thing. She's like Arly... Family.

" I can't believe it's time for the little squirt to head up to the Hart family basement already. " Hunter says and I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

Don't get me wrong I'm over the Bret/Shawn saga, it's just... If Chloe wanted someone to train Arlette why wouldn't she come to us? I'll have to ask her later.

" Yeah but she's excited. They'll teach her everything they taught me about wrestling. Anyway, I'll see you guys later. Have a good work out. " She says rushing off to meet the girls.

Authors Note: Hey guys sorry for the wait but you should be used to it by now. This is a filler chapter but it does give a little insight as to how deep Chloe and Shawn's relationship really was. Anywho, I hope you enjoyed it, let me know!